Cleaning apparatus



Sept. 15, 1942. w. J. ELVIN ETAL CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8. 1940 3Shets-Shedt l INVENTORS. ELVIN WILLIAM J ELME RAY R R.STAHL. MOND D.REEL AND EPH H.DUCK

WORTH {WM ATTORNEYS Sept. 15, 1942. J. ELVIN EI'AL CLEANING APPARATUS 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8, 1940 ,IIIIIAIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIA v INVENTORS.LIAM J. ELVIN,

ER R.sTAH1 MOND D. REEL AND EPH H.D K WORTH Y ATTOR EYS iatented Sept.15, 1942 William J. Elvin,

Meyersdale, Pa., W. Va., and

Md., assignors Joseph H.

Frostburg, Md Elmer R. Stahl, Raymond -D. Reel, Keyser, Duokworth,Lonaconing, to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation ofDelaware Application November 8, 1940, Serial No. 364,830

6 Claims.

This invention relates to cleaning apparatus, and relates moreparticularly to an apparatus for cleaning textile bobbins.

An object of our invention is the provision of means for cleaningtextile bobbins used for packaging yarn or thread.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic bobbincleaning means.

A further object of our invention is the provision of means for thecleaning of textile bobbins which will reach all surfaces thereof.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of suitablemeans for trapping and removing the dust and dirt loosened from thebobbins by the cleaning means.

Other objects of our invention will appear from the following detaileddescription.

In cleaning textile bobbins it has been the usual thing to wipe themfree from dirt and dust by hand. Although this method of cleaning isslow and tedious, the dust and dirt thereon must be removed. If thebobbins are used without cleaning, the yarn wound thereon becomes soiledwith resulting irregularities in the cloth woven therefrom and, if thesoiled cloth is not thoroughly scoured before dyeing, uneven dyeing mayresult. The removal of the dust and dirt deposited on the metal bobbinstherefore becomes an important economic factor.

Our invention will now be described in detail with referenceto theaccompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a device for cleaningbobbins incorporating certain preferred embodiments:

In the drawings 7 Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device of our invention,

Fig. 2 is a rview taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing in detail asingle cleaning brush in position, the means for clamping the bobbin inposition, the bobbin releasing means, the driving chains and sprockets,and the suction fan-and ducts,

Fig. 3 is a detail view one. slightly enlarged scale showing themechanism for moving the bobbins from the feed chute into position onthe transport wheel,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the mechanism in Fig. 3, takenalong line 4-4 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1,showing the bobbin feed chute,

Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 are detail views showing the manner in which eachof the driven cleaning brushes shown in Fig. 1 becomes in contact withdetent 22 falls until the various portions of the bobbin to be cleaned,

and 1' r Fig. 10 is a detail view showing the counterbalanced bobbinsupply cradle, the bobbin sup- :ply chute and the bobbin feed chute.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

In the device of our invention, the bobbins II which are to be cleanedare first fed manually or by suitable mechanicalmeans (not shown) intothe top of a chute l2 (see Fig. 5) having a lateral opening l2 at thebottom thereof. In Fig. 5 a bobbin H is shown in position ready to befed to a mechanism, generally indicated by the reference character A,which is adapted to carry bobbins successively to a number of cleaningstations hereinafter described. Whenthe bobbins are placed in the chuteI 2, the first one is stopped by a detent l3 and the space at thelateral opening l2" will remain empty until a trapping mechanism,hereinafter described, is et in motion.

The detent I3 is pivoted on a pin l4 held in brackets l5 attached to theside of the chute l2. The detent I3 is held in operative position by anexpansible spring l6 which bears against the side of the chutel2 andagainst'an extension l3a integral with detent l3, the spring It beingheld in position by pins l'l.

In order for the bobbinto be dropped vtothe discharge position adjacentthe lateral opening l2, the detent I3 is disengaged-to release thebobbin by the action of a cam l8 keyed to a rotating shaft l9 held inalignment by a bracket 20 fixed to the housing of the apparatus. The camI8 is provided with a projection 18a. which is adapted to depress an arml3b integral with and substantially at right angles to detent l3 causingthe same to move out of opening 2| in the wall of chute l2 and away fromthe trapped'bobbins whereby said bobbin is released and falls to thebottom of the chute. The movement of detent l3 away from the chutecauses. a detent 22 to rotate on its pivot 23 fixed to a bracket 24 andto move forward through. another opening v215 in the wall of the chutethereby preventing any succeeding bobbins in the chute from falling ontop of the bobbin which is now in position to be fed to the bobbincarrying mechanism. between detent l3 and detent 22 may be regulated asby a screw 26. After the release of arm |3b by the arm projection l8a,the spring l6 expands causing the detent l3 to reenter opening 2|,themovement of detent 13 causing detent 22 to move out of opening 25 andthe bobbin held by it is stopped by detent-.13.

The play shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, amino carry them by the severalcleaning stations.

Automatic means are provided for moving a bobbin II into aligned slots28 in plates 21. As

shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this means comprises a:

bifurcated arm 29 pivoted at 30 to 'a'rod 3I. The arm 29 is providedwith an integral extension 29' by which said arm 29 is operativelyconnected to a rod 32 through an arm 33 which is pivotally attached torod 32 by means of pins 34 and 35. The rods 3I and 32 are supported byand pass through blocks 36 and 31 fixed to a shelf 31: in the housing ofthe apparatus. The arm 29 is operated tomove the bobbins from the chuteto the bobbin carrier by means of a pair of cams 38 and 39 keyed toashaft 49. Cam 38 operates on a cam follower 4I' carried ina bifurcatedend of rod 3| and cam '39- operates on cam follower I 42 similarlycarried in a bifurcated end of rod 32. As the cam 38 causes rod 3I tomove forward, cam 39 also movesrod 32 forward causing arm- 29 to enterchute I2. As rod 3| reaches the limit-of its forward motion, rod 32continues to move an additional distance forward under the action of cam3-9, causing arm 2-9-to pivot at 39 and move horizontally, therebyregisteringbobbin H in aligned slots 28. Ascam- 38 turns, the movementof arm 29 and rod3'l is reversed by springs 43 and 44 anchored to-posts45- and IIIi at one end and pulling on a rod -4I- set inrod 3I=at theother. The movement of rod- 32' islikewise reversed, as, cam 39 turns,by a second pair of springs (not shown) anchored below-springs 43 and44' on posts45 and 46 and pulling on a rod 4I'setin rod 32. I

As the bobbin II registers withslots 28, it is caught by centeringclamps? which arecaused to act by expansible springs '49 The-clamps 48are held open by stationary cam 58 until the rotation of the bobbintransport plates 21 carries the cam follower I' beyond the stationarycam 50, thus permitting the springs 49- to expand-and closethe clamps onthebobbin. Stopmeanssuch as, adjustable stop screws maybe provided tolimit the extent ofthe'closing movement of the clamps 48', therebypreventing tooclose a gripping of the bobbin and thus; insuring thefreerotation of. the bobbin while heldinthe clamps '48 during the cleaningoperation. Said means may be provided on the bobbin transport plates 21.The clamps 48. are supported by brackets 52 to which they are pivotallyattached by pins 53, brackets 52 being held on the bobbin transportplates 21 as by screws 54. The stationary cam 5nissupported by a spider55.

The bobbin transport plates 21 are set on a shaft 2'! rotated by. a.chain. 56 meshing with sprocket wheels 51. and. 58 which are in suitablegeared ratio. Sprocket wheel 58 iskeyed on to shaft 21' and wheel 51 iskeyed on to shaft 59 whichis' driven by a motor 69. through suitablegearing enclosed in gear box BI- Asshown in Fig. 1, the: bobbintrapping, and feeding mechanismin-Fig. 5 isoperated by-av chain 62',driving the shaft I9 through a-sprocket wheel 53., the power for drivingthe chain '62 being taken from the drive shaft 59. In like manner, cams38 and 39 which operate to move the forked arm 29 and register thebobbins with the aligned circular slots 28 are driven by a chain 63connected to the shaft 40 by a sprocket wheel 64 and to drive shaft 59by another geared sprocket wheel 65.

After the bobbin II has been clamped into position it is carried to theseveral cleaning stations, which comprise a series of angularly disposedrevolving brushes. The first brush coming in contact with the bobbin isthe brush 66 which cleans the outer surface of the top flange of thebobbin, the second brush '6'! cleans the outer surface of the bottomflange of the bobbin, the third brush 68 cleans the upper inner surfacesof the bobbin and. the fourth brush 69 cleans the lower inner surfaces.The combined action of the brushes acting in sequence serves to cleanall the surfaces and the action of the brushes will be more particularlydescribed in connection with the brush 61.

Asshowniin' Figs. 1. and? 2;. brush. 67 is driven by a shaft 10connected to a suitable motor 11. The motor LI and brush shaftsupporting posts 12 and: '13; are mounted on: a platform 1:4 which ispivoted on a post 15 for horizontal movement and on a pin 16' set: inbrackets IT for suitable vertical movement; the auxiliary movementenhancing the action of the brush. Platform 14 is given a reciprocatingvertical movement by-a double-acting cam 18 operating on a cam follower19' mounted in brackets- The cam 18 is keyed on a shaft fl i which isturned by a, chain drive 82 meshing with asprocket 83 set on shaft 8|,said shaft being journal'ed in a: bearing v84. Chain 82 is moved by asprocket 85 keyed on driven shaft 59. 'The reciprocating horizontalmovement of the platform I4 isproduced by the cam 78, the periphery ofwhich operates on cam follower 86 attached to the stud 86 depending fromthe underside of platform 14. The platform 14 and the brush 9'! arereturned after each displacement by aspring 81' attached toa stud 88 atone end and to a post 89 integral with a channel 90 at the other end.This reciprocating vertical and horizontal motion of the brush 6!thoroughly-cleans-the outersurface of the lower flange of the bobbin HAnair duct 9'I catches the dirt which is brushed loose, the suctionbeing provided by an enclosedsu'ction' ran 92* rotated by a motor 93supported on a bracket 94. The duct'91 leadsto a mainheader 95 and thedust and dirt is discharged through a discharge duct 96. Platform 91carrying brush 66 also describes a reciprocating, horizontal motionproduced-by a cam 98 rotating in contact with a cam follower 99 and isreturned after each displacement by suitable means; Brush 68is not givenany positive vertical reciprocating motion. Platform 9! is;pivoted on apost I II II' for horizontal movement and' may be, pivoted vertically ona pin I 0 I: held in brackets I92 which are attached to the platform.97. The brush 66 is rotated by a suitable motor.I03; Eachof-the-brushes' 69,68 and B9 is also suppliedwith a suction ductcommunicating with the header 95' for carrying away the dust and dirtloosened from the bobbins, the ends of saidducts I04, I85 and I 06-being shown broken away in Fig. 1 andFig; 2'; A motor I01, suitablysupported onzplatform I 98- drives brush B8 and brush 89' is driven bymotor I89 supported on platform H0. 7

When the: bobbin II has passed eachof' the cleaning stations and isfinally carriedbeyond brush '69, the cam'follower 5I on the clamp-I8comes in contact with the stationary cam 56]. This causes the clamps 48to open and the clean bobbin drops to a discharge chute I H from whichsaid bobbin may be removed, or caused to slide into a convenientreceiver.

The bobbins may be supplied for manual feeding to the bobbin supplychute l2 as shown in Fig. 10. A case full of soiled bobbins is set in acradle H2 which is then raised and tipped by means of a counter-weightH3 so that the bobbins fall into a chute I M. The bobbins may then beremoved through an opening I I5 and manually fed to the bobbin supplychute l2.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is merelygiven by way of illustration and that many variations may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, What we desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series ofcentering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of theflanged bobbin and to leave the outer surfaces of the flanges free,means for moving said centering clamps together with the bobbins heldthereby along a controlled path and a plurality of cleaning elements insaid controlled path adapted to contact the surfaces of said bobbins.

2. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series ofcentering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of a bobbinand to hold said bobbin freely rotatable and With the outer surfaces ofits flanges free, means for moving said clamps together with the bobbinheld thereby along a controlled path, and a plurality of cleaningelements in said controlled path adapted to engage the surfaces of saidbobbins and to rotate said bobbins about their axis While cleaning thesame.

3. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series ofcentering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of a bobbinand to hold said bobbin freely rotatable and with the outer surfaces ofits flanges free, means for moving said clamps together With the bobbinheld thereby along a controlled path, and a plurality of rotatingbrushes in said controlled path adapted to engage the surfaces of saidbobbins and to rotate said bobbins about their axis while cleaning thesame.

4. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series ofcentering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of a bobbinand to hold said bobbin freely rotatable and with the outer surfaces ofits flanges free, means for moving said clamps together with the bobbinheld thereby along a controlled path, a plurality of cleaning elementsin said controlled path adapted to engage the surfaces of said bobbinsand to rotate said bobbins about their axis while cleaning the same, andmeans for reciprocating at least one of said cleaning elements so as tofacilitate the cleaning of said surfaces.

5. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series ofcentering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of a bobbinand to hold said bobbin freely rotatable and with the outer surfaces ofits flanges free, means for moving said clamps together with the bobbinheld thereby along a controlled path, a plurality of rotating brushes insaid controlled path adapted to engage the surfaces of said bobbins andto rotate said bobbins about their axis While cleaning the same, andmeans for reciprocating at least one of said brushes so as to facilitatethe cleaning of said surfaces.

6. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series ofcentering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of a bobbinand to hold said bobbin freely rotatable and with the outer surfaces ofits flanges free, means for moving said clamps together with the bobbinheld thereby along a controlled path, a plurality of cleaning elementsin said controlled path adapted to engage the surfaces of said bobbinsandto rotate said bobbins about their axis while cleaning the same, andmeans for reciprocating the cleaning elements in at least twodirections.

WILLIAM J. ELVIN. ELIVIER R. STAHL. RAYMOND D. REEL. JOSEPH H.DUCKWORTH.

